Tokyo Olympics village opens amid COVID pandemic

Jul 13, 2021 | News On Japan

Jul 13, 2021 (NHK) - The athletes' village for the Tokyo Games opened on Tuesday, 10 days before the opening ceremony of the Games.

But unlike in the past, there was no ceremony or special event to welcome delegations due to precautions against the coronavirus.

On opening day, some officials from Japan and other countries were spotted entering and leaving the village, but athletes were nowhere to be seen.

A total of up to 18,000 athletes and staff can stay at the facility in Tokyo's Harumi district.

As an anti-virus precaution, athletes are required to limit their stays in the village by checking in five days before their competitions. They must also leave the village within two days after their events finish.

During past events, athletes from all over the world were able to socialize and go out. But for the Tokyo Games, they are only permitted to travel to event venues and other necessary places, and are not allowed to go out for sightseeing, dining, or shopping.

Those allowed into the village are also limited.

When training at a fitness center or elsewhere in the village, athletes are asked to wear masks. They are also advised to keep a distance of two meters between each other when having meals in the main dining hall, and to eat alone as much as possible.

They are permitted to bring their own alcohol to their rooms, but are not allowed to drink with others in shared spaces.

Source: Kyodo

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